First Captain for Pacific Dawn
P&O Cruises Australia has announced that Captain Andrew Froude will be the first to take the helm of Australia’s own superliner, Pacific Dawn, when the giant 70,000-ton ship sets sail from Sydney on its inaugural cruise in early November.
P&O says that Captain Froude is well practised in welcoming new ships to Australia, having served as Staff Captain on Pacific Princess’ inaugural Australian season, before taking command of Pacific Sun during her first season sailing from Sydney, with Captain Froud saying, “I’m thrilled to be returning to Australia to take command of Pacific Dawn and the fact that it’s her inaugural season makes it all the more special”.
“Welcoming this beautiful new addition to P&O Cruises Australia’s fleet will be an honour for me.”
Pacific Dawn is currently sailing as Regal Princess in the northern hemisphere and will undergo an extensive dry-dock in October to tailor it for the Australian market, with the ship then be based year-round out of Sydney and offering round-trip cruises to the South Pacific and next year undertaking a spectacular ‘Pearls of Tahiti’ voyage visiting Tonga, the Cook Islands and Tahiti.
Designed by famous Italian architect Renzo Piano and built in 1991, Pacific Dawn carries 2050 passengers and is instantly identifiable by its distinctive dolphin-like prow and the signature Dome lounge, offering 11 decks, two swimming pools, five evening dining areas, nine bars and lounges, a three-storey atrium lobby, a two-storey show lounge, fitness centre and dedicated children’s facilities.
Born in Hastings, England, Captain Froude said Australia held a very special place for him because he had spent some of his childhood near Perth and he met his Australian wife while working on “the love boat”, the original Pacific Princess.
Captain Froude began his seagoing career in 1967 as a navigating apprentice with Shell tankers and attended Plymouth School of Navigation, subsequently serving as a deck officer on tankers and cargo ships trading worldwide, attaining the rank of Captain while serving on P&O European Ferries crossing the English Channel.
He joined P&O and Princess Cruises in 1995 and has served on many well known ships including Sky Princess, the ‘old’ and ‘new’ Pacific Princesses, Sun Princess, Royal Princess, Dawn Princess and Pacific Sun.
For more information on Pacific Dawn voyages call P&O Cruises on 13 24 69 or visit www.pacificdawn.com.au
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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